Local Area Service Program

As an owner whose property borders the proposed improvements, you can initiate the project by making a formal written request via a letter or email to the local improvements clerk. You can request projects at any time during the year but May 31 is the cut-off date for design and construction to occur the following year.

The Engineering Department reviews the street to determine if the requested work qualifies and if the proposed improvements are feasible. The department reviews the driveways for residential street upgrade and sidewalk construction projects and flags any unauthorized ones. 

The City sends a petition letter (typically in August or September) to every registered property owner on the street with:

1. information on the proposed LASP work and associated costs
2. petition form for signature

If you support the petition, you'll be given 30 calendar days to submit your petition forms. At least 50% of the benefiting property owners, representing a minimum of 50% of the assessed land value and improvements, must sign the petition.

All property owners can inquire about the petition's outcome within 14 calendar days of the deadline. After 14 calendar days, results will be presented to the council.

The council reviews the results of the LASP petition and makes recommendations about the project.

Construction and expenditure bylaws with details of the successful petitions are presented to the council for approval.

After the council approves, the project begins. Construction takes place during the following year's construction season. Before any work starts, the street's residents get notices about the upcoming construction.

Once the construction is over, the City collects a lump sum or yearly payments from all the property owners on the street. The lump sum or first annual charge will appear on the property tax statement the year after the construction is complete. To avoid interest charges, you may make a lump sum payment by the first tax billing year's due date or pay the remaining balance in any subsequent year.

City infrastructure, including road pavement, curb and gutter, street trees and sidewalks, will be designed to fit within the City property. An approximate view of property line locations is available on BurnabyMap.

The City's street standard includes (from the centre of the street outward):

• 8.5m (or 11.0m) asphalt
• concrete curb and gutter
• 1.5m grass boulevard with street trees
• a minimum 1.8m concrete sidewalk
• grass surface to the property line

Sidewalks will be separated from the road by a boulevard unless it's not feasible in the design. All improvements will be completed within the City right of way.

The City's back lane standard includes:

• 4.5m (or 6.0m) asphalt pavement, centred along the lane right of way
• asphalt drainage curb, as required
• crushed gravel or grass surface to the property line

We'll remove any landscaping, fences or other items on City property to facilitate construction. You may salvage and remove any items from City property before the construction project begins.

The City will try to retain as many healthy and desirable trees as possible. The City arborist will help assess the feasibility of keeping existing trees.

For street upgrade and tree planting LASP projects, we will plant new street trees on City property along the boulevard. The City arborist will select the tree species for the street and mark locations for new trees before planting. We'll notify you in advance.

Most of the existing retaining walls will either remain or be relocated. The City will assess all properties to determine if retaining walls are required.

We'll replace all authorized driveways with concrete driveway letdowns. The City will remove any unauthorized driveways that don't lead to a legal parking space. We'll notify you about any changes to your driveways in advance.

The schedule varies depending on the scope of work. Once the council approves the project, the design begins in the first year and construction may follow within the next 1-3 years depending on the scope of work and required coordination with other utility works. Street upgrades usually take 8 to 12 weeks per block.

It may occur in some cases. For instance, to address grade changes along front lawns and driveways. A professional engineer will review and design each location. We'll notify you before any work takes place on private property.

BC Hydro manages all the power poles. Therefore, City street upgrade projects don't include undergrounding of power poles. In some cases, power poles may be relocated or power lines may be raised.